A Massive
Fathers 4 Justice protest in Gloucestershire was thwarted by police.
Their plan to storm the county's family court at
Gloucester Docks was abandoned when police were tipped off. So the
protesters headed to Worcester, where four men in superhero costumes
climbed on to the roof of the Crown Court and held a 24-hour sit in. A
spokeswoman for the group said: "Everyone came out of court, including
the judges, who actually gave us a round of applause.
The group of dads had originally prepared to burst into Gloucester's
family court yesterday morning, dressed in their superhero outfits, halt
business and demonstrate on the roof for as long as they could hold out.
About 60 members from all over the country were poised to take part.
They decided to call their protest off when they heard the area was
swarming with officers. A police spokeswoman said 10 officers had been
posted near the court when they got wind of the plan.
This will not spell the end of their activities. Cheltenham-based Jason
Hatch said: "I'm prepared to go up gantries and block motorways, I'll do
whatever it takes to see my children.
When they take away access, they take away half your heart. We've got to
change this law. He is already on bail for causing a public nuisance
after he and three others scaled Clifton Suspension Bridge to raise the
profile of their cause. Jason says he is prepared to go to jail to get
his point across.
Police spokeswoman Zoe Young said: "The primary aim of this police
presence was to protect the safety of both the public and any persons
who may have chosen to exercise their right to peaceful protest."
Fathers 4 Justice is campaigning against what it argues is unfair child
access law. The group, which has 6,500 members nationwide, says the
system is too heavily weighted towards mothers.
Jason said: Whatever the mother says, the judge takes as truth and it's
down to the father to prove his innocence.
He said their mission was to achieve 50/50 presumption. The dads are
also angry because they say where they do get access agreements they are
not enforced.
Jason said: "Fifty per cent of court orders are flouted but the courts
do nothing." Fathers 4 Justice got a boost earlier this month when a
senior judge criticised the legal system for failing dads.
29 April 2004
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